ASTM D3273 – Antifungal Test – Coatings

ASTM D3273 is the standard antifungal test method for the resistance to growth of mold on the surface of coatings in an environmental chamber.

Fungi can grow in many different environments, but generally thrive the most in moist, nutritious environments.

This antimicrobial test method is a dry film coating test that provides the accelerated evaluation of the relative resistance of paint films to surface mold, fungi, and mildew growth in a severe environment.

ASTM D3273 performs an accelerated antifungal test with a standard test duration of 4 weeks. The three fungal organisms tested against are A. pullulans, A. Niger, and Penicillium.

For the ASTM test method D3273, once testing has completed, fungal defacement on the test samples is measured.

ASTM D3273 is most commonly used for coatings and many other building and construction products and materials. Customers commonly request to have their formulations tested with ASTM D3273 to determine antimicrobial efficacy of their formulation at different concentration levels.

Testing a variety of concentrations can help manufacturers select the most effective antimicrobial during product development, prior to manufacturing a finished product.